Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-03-10
THE SESSION ENDED.
The xLIxth Congress Adjourns on
the 4th.
The Closing Hours.

The Closing Hours.
The XLIXth congress ended its existence
at noon on the 4th inst. AS usual at the
closing session everybody was busy, every
body WIS excited. Members were anxious
to get matters attended to which had been
pending for some time. In their eagerness
to catch the speakers eye and reach men
whose influence was desired tumbled, over
each other like boys on play ground.
Added To this the session had lasted for
As hours, and the members were sore
headed, sleepy and nncharitable.
The night before cong ress ad ourned was
q busy one at the executive mansion. The
president had notified the president of the
senate and speaker OF the house that the
executive mansion would he open all night
and that he would be on hand at all hours
To pass upon matters requiring executive
action. The president p issed good part
OF the night at his desk in the library, ex-
aiming and signing bills and consulting
with members OF his cabinet about appro-
priations affecting their respective de-
partments. All through the night the
president remained about the library, and
at intervals messengers arrived with bills
that had passed both houses and only
needed the presidents signature 10 become
laws Two important bills which had been
before the president for 10 days the anti
po,ygamy and the trade dollar bills-were
allowed to become laws without his sigma
ture, but n large number were con -idered
and signed during the night. At an early
hour in the morning, however, he went to
the capital in time to sign several bills be
fore the adjournment.
The president failed to sign the river and
harbor appropriation bill prior to adj ourn-
ment ana it consequently dies He spent
three hours considering il and then de-
clined to sign it.
Despite the fact that very great deal
of time has been wasted in useless debates
by this congress, much has been accom-
pushed In the way or enactment of general
laws Never were there so many bills in
troduced, and more were repo, ted from
committees than at any previous con-
crosses. More, too are left on the calend-
ers as blasted hopes than was ever known
at the expiration OF a congress. There
were introduced in the house during the
session Just ended 1850 bills md 263 joint
resolutions. or these measures 4, 113 were
reported back from the various commit
tees with favorable or adverse recommen-
datio n, and n ma iority of them have died,
Status is concerned s II they Ssi' "' are
to have any life in future con
crosses they must be reintroduced-
There were introduced in the senate 3,351
bills and ZIG Joint resolutions, and the per
cent reported from committees was lit
tie higher than in the house. During the
last two days OF the session the calendars
of the two house, increased in size rather
than diminished. owing to reports made
for the purpose OF giving character TO the
measures rather than with o view OF
bringing about their passage.
The following are the acts of the last
session of this congress which have a gen
eral interest: Retiring certain officers of
the navy OF the United States; for the re
lief of certain soldiers of the Michigan
volunteer infantry, honorably discharged
under special orders ~. war department
March i, 1856: amending the revised stat
utes relating to pensions to certain dis
ahed ersons who have served in the
navy or marine corps: extending the free
delivery system OF the postoliice
department to every incorporated city
or village with population If 10000,
or having gross postal re ceiptS of $4,000 a
year: authorizing the construction of n
bridge across the st. Louis river between
Minnesota and Wisconsin,; granting pen
sions TO the soldiers and sailors OF the
Mexican war; providing n school of in
Struction for cavalry and light artillery;
fixing the day for the meeting Of the cleo
tors of president and vice-president, and
to provide for and regulate the counting
of the vote for president and vice presi-
PRECEDENT and the decisions of questions
arising thereon: authorizing the con
struction of n bride across the Missis-
sippi river at st. Louis, Mo: regulating
relating t. patents. trade MARKS and copy
rights: providing for the allotment of
lands in severalty 20 Indians; declaring
the forfeiture of lands granted to the New
Orleans, Batan Rouge d Nicksburg rail.
road company: making an annual appro
priation of $iO0,00O for arms and equip.
inents for the militia; establishing "A mill
tary post at Denver, Col: providing for
the execution OF certain sections of the
treaty with China, and prohibiting United
TOT OIL Holm L. lrtn ntIt fh.a laI
of federal prisoners.
The retaliation bill has received the
Presidents signature, AMI is now a law.
The measure is known as the Edmunds
BILL and provides in substance that when
the President is convinced that our fisher
men or fishing vessels are deprived of
their rights or harassed or veXed in Cana
dian ports or waters, he may by proclama-
ton exclude Canadian vessels from the
waters and ports of the United States.
Such vessels and their cargoes may be
seized, and the crews fined or imprisoned.
In this connection il may be well to state
that it has been decided To Introduce q bill
in the Dominion parliament raising the
duties on all imports from the United
States. the measure to take effect when
ever the Edmunds retaliation bill is put
into effect by the United States.
The president has committed the death
sentence in the case of John Washington
and Simmons Wolf. two Seminole Indians,
to Imprisonment for life These indians
were convicted of assault on the person Of
n white woman in the Indian Territory
and were sentenced to be hanged Feb. =.
In the case of the British Indians wish
ing to emigrate into Alaska the attorney
general decides that the immigration of
peaceful individual Indians who have dis
solved tribal rela tions j. not prohibited
by statute and is not inconsistent with
the general policy of the government, but
there is no provision of law assuring to
such foreign Indians any legal right to
acquire lands; neither can the president
set aside a reservation for their occu-
pancy.
Public Printer Benedict has been con-
hrmed by the senate.
The treasury department has decided
that the wife of "a Chinese laborer Is a per-
son whose original entry into this country
is prohibited by the Chinese restriction act.
BY q strictly party vote Senator ingalls,
has been elected president pro tenn of the
senate. Mr.. ingalls, took the oath of Office
Saturday, Feb. II. When he took the chair
he said that, while he would inevitably suf-
fer disparagement by contrast with the
parliamentary learning. skill, urbanity and
accomplishments of his ilustrious pred
ecessor,. he would strive to excel him in
grateful appreciation of the distinguished
honor conferred.
There is no one subject of more interest
to the labor element than that of convict
labor and we append synopsis of the re-
port of Carroll ID. Wright, commissioner
of labor on this subject. He says that
the prison population of A,609 has pro-
portion of one in thousand to the popu-
lation of the United States. Whatever
competition, considering the country at